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Soundart Radio & DSYP - A Happy Radio Family

As part in the Dartington Summer Youth Programme (DSYP), Soundart Radio provided a unique opportunity to five young students last week; the opportunity to create and broadcast their own radio programmes. The DSYP students spent the week working creatively with sound using open source software, recycled material and the encouragement to be experimental in their approach. They learnt how to record and edit their own recordings, practiced interviewing and microphone techniques – they even learnt how to make their own crystal radio sets out of junk. The week culminated in a two hour live radio broadcast to showcase their handy work.

Chris Booth, course leader said “The young students were fantastic; they were focused, enthusiastic and incredibly hard working. From day one, they declared themselves to be ‘A Happy Radio Family’ and used this tag line for spontaneous live jingles throughout their programmes. The course was aimed to make radio production totally accessible and the students now have the skills to make their own radio programmes using free software from the internet and their own vivid imaginations. It’s an incredibly empowering set of skills to have because they can now use these skills to make programmes about issues that really matter to them and Soundart Radio will always provide the air time to broadcast programmes made by local people about local issues.”

The highlight for all the students was undoubtedly being able to work in a live broadcasting studio, where they were supported and encouraged to present their show in their own inimitable styles. By the end of the week their confidence in operating the broadcasting desk and conducting interviews and discussions had skyrocketed.

“I thought it would be hard but they (the Soundart Radio team)taught it really well, so it was easy!” Gabrielle Sheehan (age 14)

“They (the Soundart Radio team) were very helpful and friendly. Very easy to talk to and fun………. I didn’t think of it as work because we were having so much fun……..” Mirambai Kellett (age 14)

The students were: Gabrielle Sheehan, Mirabai Kellett, Patrick Hall, Elliott Darby, Elah Baker. The Soundart Radio team were Chris Booth, Lucinda Guy, Melanie Dennig and Nell Harrison.